Washing machine



A. E. STATHAM.

WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19, 1921.

PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. E. STATHAM.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, 1921..

132 ,91 9, Patgnted Sept. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/ yr for Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES ALBERT EDWARD STATI-IAM, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed December 19, 1921. Serial No. 523,554.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EDWARD STATHAM, a subject of the King of Great Britain,- residing at 122 Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, in the county of Warwickshire, England,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, (for which I have filed application in England, Dec. 18, 1920), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in and connected with coppers or washing boilers for clothes, linen and the like.

According to this invention, a wash boiler is provided with a hollow cone, furnished with a base fitting loosely in the bottom of the copper and preferably detachably fixed thereto. The top of the hollow cone terminates in a steam chest having nozzles fitted thereto, adapted to project jets of steam, owing to the evaporation of the water, due to the heating of the wash boiler. Mounted contiguously to the nozzles is a small turbine, the casing of which may be in one with or connected to the top of the hollow cone. The turbine is caused to rotate by the impact of the jet of steam on its vanes, and by suitable reducing gear, drives an oscillating stirrer or dolly to keep the clothes in motion during the operation.

Figure 1 is a view of a device constructed according to this invention, one side being shewn in elevation whilst the other side is shewn in section on line a: w of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, but showing the hinged lid removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the nozzles hereinafter referred to.

Figure 4: is a section on line g y of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the lower portion of the turbine casing.

According to a convenient embodiment of this invention the appliance comprises a casing 1 having a lid 2 hinged at 3. Inside this inner casing is fitted a cylindrical casing 1 having a dished bottom 5. A cylindrical member 6 having a conical base 7 is fixed above the dished bottom 5. A third inner perforated cylindrical member 8 is fitted inside the cylindrical member 4 to form an annular chamber therebetween and this annular chamber communicates with the space between the members 5 and 7 by perforations around the annular part 9. The top of the cylindrical member 6 has a steam the member 13.

chest 10 fixed thereto. Inside the member 6 a numberv of pipes 11 are fitted, such pipes passing down through the dished bottom 5 and curling round to enter the bottom 5 as indicated by Figure 1. The steam chest 10 has conveniently cast therewith the bottom 12 of a turbine chamber, the top 13 of the turbine chamber being bolted thereto. A turbine 14 having blades 15 is mounted in a footstep bearing 16 and in a bearing in A plurality, conveniently four, of nozzles 17 are fixed by screws into sockets 18 in the top of the steam box 10, the nozzles being arranged to project the steam against the vanes of the turbine 14. The bottom 12 of the turbine casing is formed with a number of holes to allow of the escape of condensed water. A spindle 19 of the turbine is adapted to oscillate stirrers 20 through the medium of suitable gearing which conveniently comprises spur wheels 21, 22, 23 and 2 1 enclosed in the casing 25 bolted above the turbine casing. A spindle 26 carrying the wheel 24: has an arm 27 fixed thereon and such arm is adapted to oscillate the stirrers. The stirrers are carried in such a manner that they may be raised to allow of the insertion and removal of ar ticles into the boiler. This is conveniently effected by attaching the stirrers to the member 29 which is adapted to lie on the pivoted arm 30 which is mounted on the pivot carried by the casing 25. This pivoted arm 30 has a boss 31 at one end through which fits a square sectioned bar 32 of one of the stirrers 20. The arm 29 has also a depending piece 33 which engages in a channel portion of the arm 30 so that the arms 29 and 30 are interlocked to oscillate in unison. To raise the stirrers the arm 29 is lifted away from the arm 30, the part 32 sliding in the boss 31. The arms 29 and 30 may be oscillated by means of a pin 28 on the end of the arm 27 engaging in a slot 34: in the arm 30. The water in the boiler may be conveniently heated by gas rings or the like and the steam will run up the cylindrical memher 6 and enter the steam box 10. The pipes 11 are so arranged that the water contained thereby will be heated first so that the steam will be more quickly passed to the steam chest 10. The steam then passes through the nozzles and drives the turbine for rotating the stirrers 20.

The pressure of the steam in the box 10 is limited by the head of Water in the boiler and should the pressure increase above this amount steam will escape down the tubular member 6 and up the annular chamber 8.

Claims. I 1. A washing machine or boiler comprising a container for the water and articles to be Washed or boiled, a stirrer working in the liquid, a steam turbine for operating the stirrer, a steam chest located under the turbine casing, and a hollow cone or tubular member located centrally of the casing and surmounted by the said steam chest, substantially as set forth.

2. A washing machine or boiler comprising a container for the water and articles to be washed or boiled, a stirrer Working V in the liquid, a steam turbine for operating the stirrer, a steam chest located under the turbine casing,.a' hollow cone or tubular member located centrally of the casing and surmounted by the said steam chest, an inner cylinder located in the main container, the base of which inner cylinder isformed by the base of the said cofne or'tubu'lar member, substantially as set forth.

3. A washing machine or boiler comprising a container for the water and articles to be washed or boiled, a stirrer working in the liquid, a steam turbine for operating the stirrer, a steam chest located under the turbine casing, a hollow cone or tubular member located centrally of the casing and surmounted by the said steam chest, an inner cylinder located in the main container,-the

base of which inner cylinder is formed by the base of the said cone or tubularmember, and heating tubes which pass up the hOllu W cone or tubular member from under 1 the bottom of the outer, container to the 

